UNDER THE TWIN HEMLOCKS
"Say, ain't this going-some, for a rough road?" called Bluff, who was
pounding along close behind Jerry, Will bringing up the rear.
"Beats everything I ever did on wheels--wow! that was a scorcher of a
jolt! I hope none of the wheels break down!" answered the other, over his
shoulder; but he dared not take his eyes off the uneven "tote" road which
they were following, for more than a second at a time, lest some
unfriendly root hurl him into the ditch, a wreck.
"See anything of 'em, Frank?" wheezed Jerry a bit later, as he kept
his machine close behind the leader; for somehow in this race for
the campsite Frank just naturally forged to the front from mere
force of habit.
"Thought I had a peep of something moving ahead--soon know," came
the answer.
Some more jumping followed, and it required considerable agility on the
part of the four riders to keep their saddles.
Then they made a turn, and discovered three boys in full flight ahead.
"There they are!" cried Jerry, in excitement.
"How far ahead is the spring?" called Frank.
"About half a mile, I reckon."
"Good! Then the game is ours, barring accidents!"
The three fellows ahead kept turning around every dozen seconds, as if
worried at the rapid approach of the others.
"Keep your eyes peeled; they're hatching up some sort of mischief!"
called Frank, who knew the signs.
He saw that the others began to wobble in their movements, which was
plain evidence that they had tired themselves out by their night tramp,
and were in no condition to compete with the motorcycles, even on this
rough stretch of road.
The tall, athletic-looking leader of the trio suddenly jumped aside, and
stooped over as if snatching something from the ground.
"'Ware, hawks!" shouted Bluff, who had noted this maneuver.
It could now be easily seen that Pet Peters had fastened upon quite a
cumbersome branch of a fallen tree, and his purpose was manifest when he
stepped out as if to drop it across the road, meaning to wreck the
machines as they swept on.
Frank changed his course just a trifle, but was now heading straight for
the unprincipled schemer, who would have taken the chances of seriously
injuring some of the party in order to further his own plans.
The sight of that heavy motor-cycle heading straight at him rather
demoralized Pet, who did not know but that Frank meant to chase him until
he got him; so that he dropped the branch before he had quite covered the
entire space across the narrow road, and made a wild leap for safety.
Consequently, Frank was able to veer aside and skim past the dangerous
obstruction without coming a "cropper" in the ditch.
Jerry also swept by, and the others were coming so fast on the heels of
the two leaders that the bewildered roughs could not pull their wits
together in time to make any successful swoop.
Perhaps they were not particularly anxious to arouse the party after
all; for the sight of the weapons they carried, and, above all, the
martial appearance of the khaki-clad Bluff, must have impressed them
more than a little.
"Hurrah! the camp is ours!" yelled the tail-ender, as he clung to the
rear of the remarkable procession; for never before had these solemn
woods witnessed anything like such a progressive picture of modern magic
as these four lads booming along on metal steeds capable of making fifty
miles an hour and more, in case of necessity, and over a smooth road.
A few minutes later of more moderate traveling brought them to a point
where a view could be had of the camp-site.
"Over to the right--notice those twin hemlocks yonder--well, the
wonderful spring bubbles up close beside those trees. Hold up, Frank!"
called Jerry.
So the quartette dismounted, jumping from their wheels while still in
motion, after the habit of those who use motor-cycles.
In another minute all of them were bending low over the spring, testing
the delightfully clear waters of the same.
Loud were the exclamations of satisfaction that arose, for their ride had
made them thirsty, and the water was as cold as ice.
"A cracking good spot for a camp," was the verdict of the experienced
Frank, as he allowed his eyes to rove about, and take in the
surroundings.
Jerry beamed with pleasure.
"Knew you couldn't help liking it, for it seemed to cover all the
necessities of the case, as far as I know them," declared Jerry, whose
knowledge was founded pretty much on theory based on extensive reading
rather than a practical experience such as Frank had passed through.
"This little knoll will serve to shed water when it rains, as it's sure
to do some time or other; it always does when you camp; and the water is
just far enough away to keep the spring from being polluted by any refuse
from the fire. Yes, and the trees around here have not been touched by
lumbermen, so that the whole aspect is restful to the eye. I like it,
Jerry; it's a regular jim-dandy place."
"Hunk, I say!" declared Bluff, after his usual explosive fashion; but if
his manner was crude, he generally hit the nail on the head, and no one
could mistake his feelings in the matter.
He immediately squatted down and began to take his gun out of its case,
an operation Jerry eyed with alarm.
"Say, look here, what are you going to do with that machine, eh? Are
you so wild to get at the slaughter that you can't wait a decent length
of time, and give the poor birds and beasts a chance to know we're here
for a long stay? For goodness' sake, show some sportsman spirit,
Bluff," he exploded.
The other looked up with an injured expression.
"Why," said he, "I'm only thinking of those three desperate characters
rushing our camp, and I wanted to let them see we are able to look out
for ourselves, that's what."
"Oh! if that's the case, hold up that tool, and I bet they light out
faster than they come--who wouldn't, I'd just like to know, when--"
"Hey, Jerry, can the wagon get in here?" asked Will, knowing what the
dispute would lead to if allowed to go on any further.
"Why, yes, I think so, if Toby knows how to manage right; you see he can
turn to the right, cross behind that thicket, and bring up here;
certainly the wagon can haul up here--if it ever gets to this point
safe," replied the other.
"You and I will look out for that, and when we ride back to convoy it
here, depend on it, we'll have our guns ready to make a good showing,"
remarked Frank. "I don't think those three fellows will dare attack us,
especially when they see Erastus. They know him all right, from sad
experience. You see 'Rastus used to be something of a prizefighter in a
small way among his kind, and nothing delights him half so much as a
scrap once in a while; and the town rowdies have suffered at his hands."
"All right; say when, and I'll be ready to go."
"Plenty of time. I figure that the wagon won't get to the lumber camp
until noon, so in the meantime we can be using that nice ax Will has
strapped to his machine, and doing a number of things. Firewood is a
mighty handy article to have around a camp, boys, and it's simply
wonderful what a big lot of it is needed."
"A hint is as good as a command, Frank; just understand that we're ready
to do anything you suggest, for we all want to learn the ropes as soon as
we can. What are you going to do?" he asked, as Frank unsheathed a camp
hatchet, and commenced to look around, as if in search of some particular
kind of wood.
"Well, you see, I remember that I lost my tent pegs the last time I
camped in Maine, and it's up to me to cut a new supply. No better time
than now, while we're waiting for the wagon. Then I expect to lay out
several poles on which to stretch the tents--one tall one for the
center, and a couple of others outside for the fly that forms a
shelter," remarked Frank, commencing operations on what seemed a
suitable piece of hickory.
"What sort of tents are they?" asked Jerry, watching all that the other
did, so as to catch the true spirit of the thing from practical
observation, which somehow seemed vastly different from what he read in
his books on sport.
"The kind which most canoeists like in these modern days. They're big
enough to accommodate four in a pinch, although it's much better to have
only two in each, and that's why I brought both along. Then, when the fly
in front is raised it makes a splendid place for the table, being
sheltered from sun and rain. Each tent has a waterproof floorcloth, to
keep the dampness out. Wait and see, Jerry."
They worked like beavers for a time.
When one tired his muscles chopping firewood another was eager to take up
the job, and it was wonderful how the pile of fuel increased.
Frank rubbed his hands with pleasure when, an hour or more later, he came
over to take a look at it, having completed his own task, as the quantity
of tent pegs announced.
"That's fine, fellows" he declared, laughing. "If you'd ever gone through
what I did once, when lost in the Maine woods one bitter cold night,
you'd never think you could have too big a pile of the stuff. Perhaps
some time I'll tell you about that experience; for I'll never forget it,
never. But, Jerry, suppose we get ready to run back to the lumber shack,
and wait there for the wagon? I won't be easy until we see it here. A
little snack first from the grub I've got here, and which Nellie put up
for us, and then we'll meander over the back trail," he said.
"Grub!" exclaimed Bluff, starting up from the soft, mossy cushion he had
fashioned, after doing his little stunt with the ax; "count me in,
please, and especially if your sister put it up, Frank, for I reckon it
must be the boss feed then."
At which the others smiled, for Bluff's weakness regarding Frank's pretty
sister was something of a joke among them.
But when the package was undone there were broad grins, for dainty
sandwiches flanked by a generous assortment of wings and drumsticks,
connected at one time with a number of spring chickens, came into view,
besides some pickles, and even a bunch of cookies, which Frank assured
his chums had been actually made by the fair hands of Nellie herself.
They had hardly known just how hungry they were until the first bite was
taken, and then little was said for some time, on account of the rapidity
with which those four sets of sturdy jaws worked.
But, as might have been expected, Bluff was the first one to reach out
his hand and secure one of the aforesaid cookies, which he munched with
closed eyes, as if mentally picturing the sweet girl from whom the
treat had come.
"All ready for the road, Jerry!" exclaimed Frank, jumping up.
"On deck, captain; I'm with you," came the reply, just as cheerily.
"You fellows keep a good watch, though I don't fancy you'll be
bothered by the three advance scouts of the Lasher brigade," remarked
Frank, as he pushed his machine into position, and prepared to run
with it for a start.
"Huh!" grunted Jerry, casting a side glance toward Bluff, who was
already shifting his repeating shotgun to a position where it could lie
across his knees as he sat there on his mossy hassock; "I bet they
won't, not as long as that thing is in sight. Talk about your
scarecrows, I'd like to wager--"
"To be continued in our next; come along, Jerry," cried Frank, as he
started on.
A minute later the merry popping of the two exhausts told that the convoy
for the "chuck-wagon," as they called it, was on the way.